1/25Hang out while we show you how to update this old '69 Cougar radio and A/C bezel into one designed for 21st-century hardware!

Jeff Lilly is a multi-faceted person. He makes his living out of Jeff Lilly Restorations, a world-class auto restoration house in San Antonio, Texas. He also happens to be a fine photographer who maintains an enviable home photographic studio. Naturally, he builds his cars with an eye toward showing prospective customers and DIY fans exactly what's behind his automotive magic. His many vehicle projects are painstakingly documented on his website, www.jefflilly.com, and the project shown here is just one of many jobs he's tackled online.

As the economy continues to tighten, more and more of us will be turning (or returning) to our own devices to make what we need to build and enjoy. More of us will be doing things the right way the first time. Here, Jeff guides us through the ordeal of constructing a dashboard bezel, in this case, one holding controls for the HVAC and audio systems. If you plan on building your dream car, you'll appreciate this road map showing what tools to use, how to use them, and the raw materials needed. Find comfort in knowing that the skills and tools used to fab this dash bezel are widely used for other areas of the car; the proper execution of a project like this is practically a graduation diploma from the school of home fabrication!